Unison probe still ongoing
NO DETAILS OF ALLEGATIONS HAVE EMERGED OVER THE INVESTIGATION AFTER SUSPENSION OF UNION OFFICIALS
OFFICIALS with the Kirklees branch of Unison are STILL under investigation more than six months after being suspended.
Veteran branch secretary Paul Holmes, branch chairman Nick Ruff and assistant branch secretary Cath Kinder were all suspended last December.
Mr Holmes was suspended by Kirklees Council. Mr Ruff and Ms Kinder were suspended by Unison.
Both the council and the union have remained tight-lipped about the suspensions and the lengthy investigation that has followed.
No details of allegations or charges against the trio have emerged.
At the time Unison said whilst there were “serious and confidential issues” to be investigated it was unable to comment on the suspensions.
It said Mr Holmes’s suspension by the council was a separate issue.
Mr Holmes made headlines as a result of his involvement with council bin workers who threatened to strike over claims of victimisation including bullying, racism and “heavy-handed” management.
He was described by one union member as “a consistent thorn in the council’s side”.
One Unison member said: “I haven’t heard a thing about Paul Holmes. I would stake my life on him. But we had a Labour council against him.
“I did phone the Unison office in Huddersfield in early March, who told me nothing except they couldn’t have an AGM yet.
“My own union rep will not even respond to phone calls or emails.”
A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “We cannot comment on the individual cases but can confirm an independent investigation is underway into the matter.”
Unison regional officer Natalie Ratcliffe, who took over the running of the Kirklees branch with colleague Ashley Harper, said: “Unison are not in a position to comment at this time.”